DATE: August 9, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Laurel C. Prysiazny, County Librarian
SUBJECT: Participation in Rural Gateway program grant as science facilitator
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
TITLE
1. Retroactively authorize the County Librarian’s previous submittal of a participant application to Califa for the Rural Gateway program ($3,500);
2. Approve and authorize the Chairman to accept grant funds from the National Science Foundation through Califa to allow the County Librarian to participate in the Rural Gateway program grant effective upon approval through September 30, 2020 ($3,500); and
3. Adopt Budget Resolution increasing the FY 2016-17 appropriations and estimated revenues in the Library Grants Organization 7517 in the amount of $2,000 (4/5 vote).
REPORT
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions, which upon approval will allow the Library to participate as a science facilitator in a Rural Gateway program grant. The participant application was submitted contingent upon your Board’s approval. The Rural Gateway grant is a program that develops rural libraries and librarians into science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) learning centers and facilitators. The Fresno County Riverdale Library branch was selected for this program.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
Your Board may choose to not accept the grant funds, which will result in the Library not developing a STEM learning program at the Riverdale Library Branch.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no Net County Cost associated with the recommended actions. The $3,500 is a disbursement to the Library for participating as a facilitator in the Rural Gateway program grant. The Library will provide an in-kind contribution of $15,349 in staff salaries and benefits as a participant in the program. Sufficient appropriations are included in the Library’s FY 2016-17 Adopted Budget for the Library - Measure B Organization 7511 and are funded with Measure B revenue. The second recommended action will increase appropriations and estimated revenues for the Library Grants Organization 7517 in the amount of $2,000 for FY 2016-17 to account for grant funding that will be received this fiscal year. The remaining $1,500 in grant funding will be disbursed in either FY 2017-18 or FY 2018-19.
DISCUSSION:
There is no agreement associated with this grant program. The National Science Foundation (NSF) awarded a Rural Gateway grant to Dartmouth College. In collaboration with Dartmouth College, the Califa Group is a sub-recipient of this grant and will disburse funding to the Library upon approval of your Board. The Califa Group is a non-profit multi-type library consortium representing more than 220 libraries in California which negotiate discounted rates for library materials on behalf of its members. In addition, the Califa Group pioneers new technological projects as well as acts as a grant administrator or sub-recipient on a number of federal and statewide grant projects. As a sub-recipient of the grant, the Califa Group will adhere to applicable federal and state laws and regulations to receive the grant.
The Fresno County Public Library was chosen to further develop STEM learning and professional development of rural library staff. This will allow the Riverdale Branch Library, as a rural library representative, to introduce creative and innovative STEM learning opportunities in two STEM program series. This will allow two staff from the rural Riverdale Branch Library to educate the community by promoting STEM learning.
The Rural Gateway grant provides funding for both professional development courses and a STEM program series. Hosted by the Califa Group, the professional development courses include online learning, planning materials, interactive webinars and virtual discussions along with media announcement templates. As for the STEM program, there will be two series hosted by the Library. Each program series require participants to read a book about science, watch a related video, and then discuss the science topic with their fellow participants and library staff. Outcome data will be completed by the Library periodically through online surveys and provided to the Califa Group. The surveys will be used as a qualitative assessment to determine the efficacy and impact of the grant.
ATTACHMENTS INCLUDED AND/OR ON FILE:
On file with Clerk - Resolution (Org. 7517)
CAO ANALYST:
Samantha Buck